Tufting-attachment mechanism for sewing machines



Feb. 26, 1924. 1,485,213

A. J. CARTER TUFTING ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July21. 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet l 3 JrwcniEn ugusf 1 Cal '70;

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Feb. 26 1924. 1,485,213

A. J. CARTER TUFTING ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July21, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 TIE- E Feb. 26 1924.

A. J. CARTER TUFTING ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES 7 FiledJuly 21, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I avmawtoz Augusf J ('arfifl; 4 4

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A. J. CARTER TUFTING ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July21, 1922 e Sheets-Sheet 4 E'woawtoz Augusf J, ('arfr, 6%

Feb. 26 1924. 1,485,213

A. J. CARTER TUFTING ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July21, 1922 e Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 26, 1924. 1,485,213

A. J. CARTER TUFTING ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed y21. 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet e Tmmlmuull 1 PatentedFeb. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES,

AUGUST J. CARTER, 0F CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

TUFTING-ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Application filed July 21, 1922. Serial no. 576,540.

sewing machines, and particularly to mechanism forming an attachment toa sewing machine for making tufted work on sheeting or woven fabrics.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide comparatively simplemechanism associated with a sewing machine to automatically form aseries of loops in regular sequence in sheeting or fabric, and to severthe loops to form a long pile which is securely held intact with thesheeting or fabric, to withstand loosening or displacement duringwashing operations and also to increase the wearing durability of'thisclass of products.

A further object of the invention is to provide comparatively simple andeffective means for tufting sheeting or woven fabrics to produce spreadswhich have heretofore usually been manually tufted, with material savingin the cost of production and selling price.

ith these and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists in the preferred construction and arrangement of the severalparts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 11, Fig. 2, andshowing the essential and well known structure of a sewing machine inside elevation;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2*). Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on an enlarged scale taken onthe line 33, Fig.4;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on an enlarged scale taken onthe line 44:, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a part of the mechanism andparticularly showing the hook for forming the loop and the holdingdevices for said loop during the operation of the needle;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on an enlarged scale on the line6-6, Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section on the llne 7-7, Fig. 2; I

Fig. 8 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the hook and thread orstrand holdin mechanism and the o erative devices there for, the partsbeing i lustrated both in full and dotted lines;

Figs. 9, 10 and- 11 are transverse vertical sections taken a shortdistance inside of the needle and looking outwardly to illus- 1 tratethe operation of the needle and the formation of the loops and theseverance of the latter to produce the pile;

Figs. 12 and 13 are plan views on enlarged scales of portions of thethroatplate together with the hook and means for holding and shiftingthe thread or strand during the operation of the needle, the holdingmeans for the thread of strand being illustrated in full and dottedlines;

Fig. 14; is a longitudinal section through a piece of sheeting or fabricshowing the manner of securing the loops therein;

Fi 15 is a section through a piece of sheeting or fabric taken in aplane at right angles to that shown by Fig. 14 and illustrating the apearance of the tufting when completed; and

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a piece of sheeting or fabric showing theappearance of the 1 completed tufting.

The improved mechanism embodying the features of the invention is shownapplied .to a' well known form of sewing machine comprising the usualsupporting base or bed 5, an upwardly and outwardly projecting fixed armor goose-neck 6 having a head 7, a main shaft 8 extending longitudinallyover the bed through the lower portion of the arm 6, a driving pulley 9on the said shaft, an eccentric 10 also mounted on the shaft near thedriving pulley 9 and having a connecting rod 11 attached to a rocker.arm 12 fulcrumed on one side of the fixed arm or gooseneck 6, as at 13,and having other end clamped or otherwise secured to a needle bar 14reciprocatingly mounted in the head '7 and, as usual, provided with aremovable needle 15 in the lower end thereof. The sewing machinemechanism also embodies a presser foot bar 16 provided with the usualmeans for raising and lowering the same and having a presser foot 17 ofspecial form fixed to the lower end thereof to cooperate with a throatplate 18 slidably and removably mounted in a work support 19, which alsoserves to cover the mechanism. In Fig. 1 the work support and throatplate have been omitted, but are shown in Figs. 8 and 4, 9, 10 and 11.The sewing mechanism also includes a feed arm 20, as shown by Fig. 2,said'latter arm being mounted to have a rockin and forward and backwardmovement t ough the medium of a rocking support 21 having a connection22 to a crank means 23 on the forward end of the main drive shaft 8. Thefeed arm 20 carries two serrated feeders 24 disposed under and workingthrough the throat plate as usual, the said feeders 24 being paralleland separated by a channel or throat 25. It will be understood from theforegoing that the feeders 24 have four motions imparted thereto toregularly cooperate with the work on the support 19 to progress thelatter in accordance with the operation of feed devices of this class.The sewin machine mechanism. is also provided wit suitable tension means26, as shown by Fig. 1, for the thread or strand 27 which is passedthrough a suitable loop 28 at the upper end of the needle bar 14 andthen downwardly through the eye of the needle 15. The mechanisms thusfar de scribed, except the specific form of the presser foot 17, whichwill be hereinafter more fully explained, do not involve the features ofthe invention and the improved attachment mechanism is shown applie tothe several sewing machine mechanisms specified to illustrate onepractical applica-- tion of the improvements. It will be understood,however, that the improved attachment mechanism may be applied to othersewing machine mechanism having essential parts similar to thosedescribed, and the operation of the improved attachment is effected fromthe main or drive shaft 8 and is carried on a supplemental base 29secured to or formed as an integral part of and pro- 'ectin5g outwardlyfrom the sewing machine ase On the main or drive shaft 8 a bevel gear 30is secured and located adjacent to the lower end of the armor goose-neck6 and is in continual mesh with a similar bevel gear 31 fixed on theinner end of a short counter shaft 32 held in an upwardly projectingbearing 33 rising from the supplemental base 29 and a portion of thesewing machine base 5. On the outer end of the counter shaft 32 a bevelgear 34 is fixed and is of the restate 31, the shaft 32 being heldagainst shifting movement in the bearing 33 by space collars 35 securedon said shaft'between arts of the bearing as shown by Fig. 1. ver thefront or outer portion of the supplemental base 29 a longitudinallydisposed motion transmitting shaft 36 is mounted in suitable bearingposts or uprights 37, and on the right end of the said shaft 36 a bevelgear 38 is secured and held in continual mesh with the gear 34. Betweenthe bearing posts or uprights 37 a bevel gear 39 is carried on the shaft36, and on the left end of this shaft a similar bevel gear 40 is fixedand continually meshes with a bevel gear 41 on the outer end of acounter shaft 42 also held against movement in a bearing 43 rising fromthe supplemental base 29 by space collars 44. Between the uprightbearings 33 and 43 is a similar bearing 45 supported by the supplementalbase 29 and a portion of the sewing machine base 5, and mounted in thisbearing 45 is a further counter shaft 46 having on the outer end thereofa bevel gear 47 held in continual mesh with the gear 39 and securedagainst shifting movement by space collars 48 mounted between parts ofthe bearing 45. On the inner or rear end of the shaft 42 is a crank 49,and on the inner or rear end of the shaft 46 is a similar crank 50, thetwo cranks 49 and 50 having a like position on the inner or rear ends oftheir shafts to provide for a similar operation thereof in connectionwith mechanism which will be hereinafter explained. Between the shafts42 and 46 at a distance outwardly from and in line with the feed arm 20and feeders 24 thereof is an angular bearing bracket 51 having anangular rocker arm 52 mounted in the inner upright member 53, theangular bearing bracket 51 being secured to the supplemental base 29.This socker arm 52 has the requisite motions impartedthereto by aconnecting rod 54 movably attached thereto and also to the lower end ofthe rocker arm 12 which controls the operation of the needle bar 14..

On the shaft 8 is an eccentrically mounted disk 55 which serves as a camto impart a rockingmovement. to a yoke 56 having its bifurcation 57formed with parallel side walls, this yoke 56 being secured to a sliderod 58 mounted in bearing uprights 59 and 60 rising from the sewinmachine base 5 close to the shaft 8. This side rod on its right end hasa transversely projecting pin 61 which continually bears on a face cam62 also fixed to the shaft 8 at a suitable distance from theeccentrically mounted disk or cam 55. The face cam 62 is formed with alow part 63 and a high part 64 for imparting a reciprocating movement"or a 65 same dimensions as the bevel gears 30 and 64 of the cam 62. Therod 58 is normally pulled to the left through the action of a springsecured to the yoke 56 and to a portion 66 of the bearing for the shaft8 located adjacent to the rocking feed arm 20. The rod 58 is given arather short reciprocating movement and after the pin 61 has passed"from the high part 64 to the low part 63 of the cam 62, the spring 65 isfree to exert its pullingtension on the rod 58 through the yoke 56. Theyoke 56 and the eccentrically mounted disk or cam 55 have such relativeproportions that the reciprocating movement of the rod 58 may ensuewithout disengagement of the yoke 56 relatively to the disk or cam 55.The pin 61 is removably mounted in a head 67 at the right end of the rod58 and may be replaced in the event that it wears down and loses itsoperating efliciency. The end of thereciprocating rod 58 opposite thatcarrying the pin 61 is provided with an upwardly and forwardly extendingloop retainer or arm 68, which has the function of disposing the loop ofthe thread or strand at regular intervals out of the path of the needleand to hold the said loop during other operations incident to theformation of a tuft. The loop retainer or arm 68 coacts with a fixedabutment or stop 69 extending in a direction reverse to the saidretainer or arm 68 and consisting of an upwardly curved member securedat its outer end on an upright or post 70 rising from the supplementalbed 29 adjacent to the outer counter shaft 42. The inner free end 71 ofthe abutment or stop 69 is straight and presents a longer edge surfacethan the adjacent free end of the retainer or arm 68. The inner free endof the abutment or stop 69 is located close to the path of movementofthe needle 15 and the free end of the loop retainer or arm 68 during itsmovement works close to the needle and during a certain period of itsoperation the end of the loop retainer or arm 68 has close engagement orcontact with the inner end of the abutment or stop 69. The outer freeend of the loop retainer or arm 68 is roughened or slightly serrated, asat 72, as clearly shown by igs. 12 and 13, and the object of thisroughened or serrated construction is to cause the end of the loopretainer or arm 68 to firmly engage the thread or strand and shift thelatter to facilitate forming and getting a loop during the operation ofthe needle. The loop retainer or arm 68 is given a lateral swinging m6-11011 by the eccentric disk or cam 55 and a reciprocating movement bythe high part a 64 of the cam 62, the latter cam first moving the rod 58and the loop retainer or arm 68 against the forward portion of the endedge of the abutment or stop 69, and then said rod and loop retainer orarm are rocked by the eccentrically mounted disk or cam 55 through themedium of the yoke 56 in a slightly arcuate plane towards the rearportion of the end edge of the abutment or stop 69, the loop retainer orarm 68 and the rod 58 under such operation being held' in engagementwith the inner free end of the stop or abutment 69 by the spring 65, in'view of the fact that at such time, or during the rocking movement ofthe loop retainer or arm 68, the pin 61 is in engagement with the lowpart 63 of the cam 62.

A hook 73 is carried by the rocker arm 52, as clearly shown by Fig. 5,the said hook comprising a body 74 having a stud 75 secured in ahead 76forming part of the rocker arm and to which the connecting rod 54 isattached. The rear portion of the hook 74 is in the form of a hook bill77 which is longer than the body 74 and is provided by bifurcating thebody as at 78, the said hook bill 77 being tapered to form a reducedfree end 79. Extending through one end of the body 74 and partiallythrough the length of the hook bill 77 is a slot 80 which is formedentirely through the bottom'portion of the body and bill.

By bifurcating the body 74 of the looping means comprising the hook bill77, an opening for the clearance and descent of the needle 15 isprovided and the said looping means is by this construction alsopermitted to be mounted close to the path of recipro-.

cation of the needle 15 to effectively operate in conjunction with thethread or strand when the needle has descended a certain distance belowthe throat plate. It will be observed that the needle bar 14 and therocker arm 52 carrying the looping means are connected to the sameintermediate actuating device, or the rocker arm 12 employed in thistype of sewing machine, to impart a regular reciprocation to the needlebar, and hence the needle bar, needle and looping means comprising thehook bill 77 will have a timed operation to effectively form a loopduring each descent of the needle and needle bar.

A knife carrier is connected to and operated bythe cranks 49 and 50secured to the inner ends of the counter shafts 42 and 46, the saidcarrier consisting of a fiat bar 81 having a bifurcated end 82 forsliding engagement with the crank 49 and the opposite en pivotally fixedto the crank 50. As clear y shown by Fig. 3, a knife or cutter 83 isadjustably secured on the outer side of the carrier or bar 81 and isdisposed at an upward and outward angle of inclination, said cutter orknife being held in fixed position yet readily adjustable to modify theangle of the same if desired by a set screw 84 engaging a longitudinalslot 85 formed in the center of the cutter or knife. By theformation ofthis longitudinal slot 85, the cutter or knife 82 may also be adjustedlength- Wise of the carrier or bar 81, and it is preferred that theupper and lower edges 86 and 87 of the cutter or knife be sharpened sothat the said latter device may be reversed to bring each cutting edgeuppermost. By disposing the cutter or knife 83 on the carrier or bar 81,at an angle as specified, and projecting a portion of said cutter abovethe upper edge of the carrier or bar, a draw-cut operation ensues whenthe carrier or bar 81 is reciprocated, and the said cutter or knife isgiven a proper elevation to render it effective in severing the loops ofthe thread or strand as'produced by the looping mechanism, the cutter orknife moving upwardly into the slot 80 a sufiicient distance toaccurately cut all of the loops while the latter are held taut. By therocking movement of the looping means the successive loops are caused toride over the hook bill 77 in positions for positive severance by thecutter or knife 83 as the latter moves upwardly into the slot 80. Afterthe cutter or knife 83 has performed its function, it recedes or islowered relatively to the looping means, or passes out of the slot 80 ofsaid latter means by the cranks 49 and 50 engaging the opposite ends ofthe carrier or bar 81. By bifurcating the one end of the carrier or bar81, binding or jamming of the said carrier or bar is prevented and aneasy and regular movement thereof ensues.

The presser foot 17 dilfers from the ordi-- na sewing machine presserfoot to accommo ate the bulk of the work passin thereunder over thethroat plate 18. In t e present instance the throat plate 17 iscomparatively elongated and has the opposite ends 88 turned upwardly, asclearly shown by Fig. 4, and in the front extremity of this plate at thebase of the front upwardly turned angular end 88 a needle opening 89 isformed as usual in devices of this character. The rear part of theresser foot 17 also has a bottom groove 1 adapted to be located over andcooperate with the channel or groove 90 in the throat plate 18, to clearthe loo s and preyent any tendency to a jam un er the rear part of'thesaid foot. The elongation of the presser foot 17 provides for positiveretention of the work over the throat plate 18'and feeders 24: duringthe formation of the loops and completion of the tufts and to insure aclose guidance of the work over the throat plate and movement of the cutloops through an upwardly and rearwardly inclined channel 90 formed inthe centre of the throat plate or between slots 91 through which thefeeders 24 have movement. The channel 90 starts at its lowermost pointat therear terminal of an opening 92, which permits the cut loops orfinished tufts to pass upwardly through the throat plate and into thechannel, as shown by Fig. 11, where it will be observed that theinstants presser foot 17 holds the fabric closely down on the worksupport 19, and the channel 90 gives the necessary clearance for the cut100 s or finished tufts without liability of cho ing. It will beZunderstood that the throat plate 18 willbe mounted and secured in thework support 19:in such a manner that it may be removed when foundnecessary, and furthermore the presser foot 17 may be readily detachedfrom the presser bar 16.

The working face of the cam 62 is preferably constantly lubricated by anabsorbent medium 93 Supported adjacent to the rear portion of the cam asshown by Figures 6 and 8, and by this means the pin 61 and cam 62 willhave anjeasy cooperation with reduced friction and wear on therespective parts. It will also be understood that lubricating means willbe provided at other points for maintaining the several operatinginstrumentalities in good running order.

in preparation for operation the thread or cord supply is carried on alarge spool or reel mounted in convenient position for feeding to themechanism, the said thread or cord being first passed through thetension means 26 and then through the feeding loop 28 at the upper endof the needle bar 14 and then downwardly through the eye of the needle15. The work or fabric is placed on the work support 19 over the throatplate 18 and held in close contact with the latter by the presser foot17 which is lowered as usual. At the beginning of the operation, theneedle 15 is elevated to the uppermost limitof its stroke, the loopforming means comprising the body 73 and hook bill 77 is over to theleft at the outward limit of its stroke and the loop retainer or arm 68has its free end spaced from the inner free end of the abutment or stop69, and the carrier 81 is at the upper limit of its stroke or highestpoint with the knife or cutter 83 in the slot 80. The needle with thethread strand or cord descends through the opening 89 of the presserfoot 17 and tinues to move laterally in a rearward direction adjacent tothe rear portion of the inner free edge of the abutment or stop 69. enthe needle 15 has fully descended or reached the lower limit of itsstroke the loop forming means including the hook bill 77 promptly dartsto move to the left or in an outward direction, and the reduced free endof the said hook bill passes between the rear portion of the needle andthe thread, strand or cord and at this time the loop retainer or arm 68moves back or to the right and swings over to the front to give theneedle free clearance in its upward movement through the fabric. Durinthe movements of the parts just specified the carrier 81 having theknife or cutter 83 thereon are then regularly moving upwardly, and justas the loop forming means including the hook bill 77 has reached thelimit of its outer stroke the knife or cutter willenter the slot andsever the loop while the thread strand, or cord is held above. and atthe same time the thread, strand or cord will be engaged by the free endof the loop retainer or arm 68 and pressed against the inner end of theabutment or stop 69, the thread, strand or cord also being held above bythe presser foot 17. The position of the parts during the several stepsof movement just explained is clearly illustrated by Figs. 9, 10 and 11,the full throw of the loop forming means including the hook bill 77 tothe right being shown by Fig. 9, and the castover and cut: ting of theloopbeing illustrated by Fig. 10, and the com pletionof each loop ortuft and the return of the needle to its uppermost stroke limit beingclearly shown by Fig. 11. The movement of the loop retainer or armrelatively to the inner end of the abutment orstop 69 is also shown infull and dotted lines by Figures 12 and 13 together with the relativeposition of the loopforming means including the hook bill 77. When eachloop has been severed or its formation completed and passes rearward inthe form of part of the tufting shown by Figure 11, the same operationis effected and the successive loops as formed by the descent of theneedle and engagement of the lluni; bill 77 of loop retainer or arm 68will b repeated in regular sequence. As shown o Figure 14 it will beseen that the loops un igh the fabric as at A will be in part held inthe same opening formed by the penetration of the needle through thefabric B, or there will be a part of each loop extended through one ofthe openings (1 and whereby portions of two loops will occupy the sameopening and thus set up a tight frictional binding and a stronger andmore durable tension of the loops in the fabric. this operation beingsimilar to ordinary stitching with an advantageous result in thefinished product. As hereinbefore explained the completed cut loops ortuft membersare drawn rearwardly with the fabric 13 and the freeextremities thereof are pulled upwardly through the opening 92 in thethroat plate and then rearwardly through the channel 90, as shown byFig. 11,

and in part under and through the groove 17 of the presser foot 17.After the fabric B has been subjected to the formation of the loops ortuft members therein, the free ends of the secured and cut loops willpresent a fiufiy appearance, as at G, as shown by Figs. 15 and 16.

The spreads for beds and other analogous tufts will be held. Thecomplete spread subjected to the tufting operation or action of themechanism hereinbefore explained will also stand washing by handor-mechanical laundry apparatus in any manner. I

The loop forming or tufting operation above described is expeditiouslycarried on and various designs may be worked out in accordance withapattern that may be out:

lined on the fabric, and as hereinbefore indicated, the improvedmechanism is 'particu larly adapted for tufting spreads. The mechanism,however, is also intended to be used in forming cut loops or tufts onother fabrics.

It will be seen that a single needle 15 serves as the main element forassisting in forming the successive loops, and as hereinbefore stated,the improved attachment mechanism is applied to and operates with theessential components of a sewing machine of a commercially well knownform. The loops before successive'severance are held taut around thebill hook 77 and are shifted over the latter so that parts of the loopscross the bottom portion of the slot 80 which extends longitudinally ofthe center of a part of said hook, and as a consequence all of the loopsare evenly cut and the tuft pile is thereby given an even lengththroughout the whole tuft formation.

That is claimed as new is:

1. In a machine of the class specified, the

for holding a fabric for penetration by the needle and strand, loopforming mechanism, and cutting means having a mounting separate from theloop forming mechanism and actuated to have a rising and falling andreciprocating movement into engagement with and away from the loopforming mechanism for severing the loops to form closely associatedsuccessive pile members of equal length.

3. In a machine of the class specified, means for holding a fabric, areciprocating needle and means for guiding a strand to the needle, theneedle and strand operating to penetrate the fabric, loop forming andholding mechanism cooperating with the needle, and cutting means mountedseparately with A relation to the loop forming and holding mechanism andhaving a rising and falling and reciprocating movement independent ofthe operation of the loop forming and hold ing mechanism and movableinto and from the rear portion of the said latter mechanism for equallysevering the loops held by the loop formin mechanism.

4:. In a machine of the class specified, mechanism for penetrating andsecuring a loop in stitch-like form in a fabric, means for formingsuccessive loops in the fabric, means for separating and holding partsof the individual loops, and cutting means mounted separately withrelation to the means for separating and holding parts of the loops andhaving a rising, falling and reciprocating movement in and through aportion of the means for separating and holding parts of the loops forregularly and equally severing the loops to form pile members of equallength relatively to one side of the fabric.

5. In a machine of the class specified, a device for penetrating afabric and carrying a strand which is passed through the fabric by saiddevice, means for forming the strand into successive loops and tautlyholding the latter at intervals, and cutting means l and through aportion of the loop for mounted separately with relation to the meansfor forming the strand into successive loops and holding the latter, thesaid cutting means having a swin 'ng movement into and away from aortion of the said loopforming and holding means to form closelyassociated pile members of. equal length on one side of the fabric.

- 6. In a machine of the class specified, means for'carrying a strandforpenetrating a fabric andpassing the strand through the latter, loopforming means having-an oscillating movement and cooperating with thestrand carrying means to produce successive loops below the underside ofthe fabric, and

cutting means having a separate mounting relatively to the loop formingmeans and actuated to move upwardly towards and into .lil, fl,

weenie means for regularly and equally severing the successive loops toform closely associated pile members of equal length in the lower sideof the fabric.

7. A sewing machine having the usual reciprocating needle and means forsupplying a strand thereto, and separately mounted and independentlymovable means for respectively forming and holding successive loops intaut condition and regularly and equally severing the loops as formed,the severing means being movable into and through a portion of the meansfor forming and holding the loops and entirely clearing the latter meansat intervals.

8. A sewing machine including a single reciprocating needle and meansfor guiding a strand thereto, means for forming a loop at one side ofthe needle and holding the loop taut after its formation, and cuttingmeans separately mounted with relation to the loop forming means andhaving a swinging movement towards and into a portion of the loopforming means for equally cutting the loop to form pile members of equallength.

9. A sewing machine having the usual single reciprocating needle andmeans for guiding a strand thereto, loop forming means having a swingingmovement to and from the needle to form successive loops when the needledescends and provided with a member to hold the loops in taut condition,and cutting means mounted separately with relation to the loop formingmeans and having an angularly disposed cutter with a cutting side edgeto enter and pass through a portion of the loop forming me'ans forequally cutting the loops while the latter are held in taut condition.

10. A sewing machine having the usual needle and means for guiding astrand to the latter, a stop abutment and loop retaining meanscooperating therewith to shift each loop laterally, loop forming me'ans,and means for equally cutting the successive loops as formed, the loopforming and cutting means being mounted separately from and movableindependently of each other and the loop retaining means.

11. A sewing machine having the usual reciprocating needle and means forguiding a strand thereto, loop formin means mounted to swing withrelation to t eneedle and comprising a bill hook to engage the strandwhen'the needle is in its lowermost position, laterally movable meansfor holding the individual loops in taut condition, and cutting meansmounted separately from and below the loop forming means and movableupwardly into a portion of said loop forming means for regularly andequaL a strand thereto, rocking hook means cooperating with the needlewhen the latter is in its lowermost position to form loops, and a cuttermounted below and separate from the rocking hook means and regularlymovable upwardly into a portion of the said hook means to equally severthe successive loops,

13. In a machine of the class specified, a

single vertically reciprocating needle provided with means for guiding astrand thereto, an oscillating hook to engage a portion of the strand toform a loop, a fixed abutment, an oscillating loop retainer having afree end cooperating with the fixed abutment to hold and shift a portionof the strand relatively to the abutment, and means for cutting the loopwhile the latter is held taut, the loop retainer and cutting means beingseparated from and operable independently of the oscillating hook.

14. In a machine of the class specified, a single verticallyreciprocating need e with means for guiding a strand thereto, means fordrawing a portion of the strand away from the needle while the latter isin its lowermost position to form a loop, means for retaining the loopin taut condition, and means for cutting the loop while held in tautcondition the loop retaining and cutting means being separately mountedfrom and movable independently of the means for drawing a portion of thestrand away from the needle.

'15. In a machine of the class specified, a single verticallyreciprocating needle pro vided with means for guiding a strand thereto,mechanism for successively drawing a portion of the strand away from theneedle while the latter is in its lowered position, to form a loop,holding the separated portion of the strand taut while the needle isascending, and cutting the loop to form pile members of equal length,the mechanism for drawing a portion of the strand away from the needle,holding the separated portion of the strand taut and for cuttin the loopbeing separately mounted and aving movements independently one withrelation to the other.

16. In a machine of the class specified, a work support on which fabric,is placed, a single vertically reciprocating needle provided with meansfor guiding a strand there to, the needle operating to pass through thefabric and carry the strand therewith, means for separating a portion ofthe strand from the needle below the fabric to form a loop. means forholding the loop 'as the needle ascends, and means for equally cuttingthe loop while the latter is held in taut condition for forming closelyassociated pile members of equal length below and secured to the fabric,the means for separating the strand from the needle, for holdin the loopas the needle ascends and for equa y cutting adapted to be placed forpassage of the needle and the strand therethrough, a movable devicemounted to pass between the needle and a portion of the strand to form aloop and effect a sliding movement of the separated art of the strandover said device as the needle elevates, means for holding the separatedpart of the strand and shifting the latter out of the path of movementof the needle. and means for cutting the loop to form pile members ofequal length, the said movable device, means for holding the separatedpart of the strand and shifting the latter. and means for cutting theloop being independently mounted and having timed sequential operations.

18. In a machine of the class specified. a work support having feedingmeans movable through a portion thereof to engage a fabric placed onthe'support, a single vertically reciprocating needle movable throughthe support relatively to the feeding means and provided with devicesfor guiding a strand thereto. a reciprocating hook movable between theneedle and a portion of the strand for separating the latter from theneedle to I form a loop, means mounted independent of the hook forretaining the loop in taut condition, and means mounted independent ofthe said hook and loop retaining means for cutting the loop to form pilemembers of equal length.

19. In a machine of the class specified, a single verticallyreciprocating strand-carrying needle, a work support adapted to havefabric placed thereon for penetration by the needle and strand. loopforming and holding means mounted below the work support to have aswinging movement towards the latter in the arc of a circle and holdingthe loop for an interval in taut condition, and cutting means mountedbelow and separate from the loop forming means and movable into andthrough a portion of and away from the loop forming means at intervalsto form closely associated elongated pile members of equal length.

20. In a machine of the class specified, a work support adapted toreceive a fabric thereon, a single vertically reciprocating strandcarrying needle movable through the work support and fabric, a fixedstop means and a longitudinally reciprocating laterally oscillating loopretainer arrange-d below the work support in opposition and between theends of whi' h the needle has movement, an

oscillating hook below the plane of the fixed i stop means and retainerand operating to separate a portion of the strand from the needle toform a loop which is held taut by the retainer against the stop meansmounted separately from and movable independently of the loop retainerand oscillating hook, and cutting means for severing the loop while thelatter is held taut.

21. In a machine of the class specified, a work support, a singlevertically reciprocating strand carrying needle, a fixed stop having aninner free end, a longitudinally reciprocating and lateral oscillatingloop retainer having afree end disposed opposite the free end of thestop, an oscillating loop forming means including a hook bill below thestop and retainer for separating a part of the strand from the needleand holding the separated strand in the form of a loop while the needleascends, the hook bill being slotted for a portion of its length, andvertically reciprocating cutter mounted and operating in .pendently ofthe oscillating loop for. means and movable into the slot of the mobill, for severing the loop while the latter is held taut by theretainer against the stop.

22. In a machine of the class specified, a work support for holding afabric, a throat plate mounted in the work support, feeding devices forthe fabric movable through the throat plate, the throat plate having anopening therethrough with a rearwardly and upwardly inclined channelleading therefrom, a presser foot to engage the fabric on the worksupport having a groove in its lower side over the channel of the throatplate, a single vertically reciprocating needle provided with means forguiding a strand thereto, the needle being-movable through the presserfoot and throat plate and the fabric, loop forming means below thethroat plate, the loop forming means having a swinging movement close tothe underside of the work support, a loop holding means mounted'separatefrom and operable independently of the loop forming means, and loopcutting means also mounted separately below and clear of the loopforming means and movable into a portion of the latter at intervals toform pile members of uniform length, the pile members being successivelydrawn upwardl t through the opening in the throat plate and through thechannel of the latter and groove of t e presser foot by the feedingmovement ie fabric.

23. A sewing mac comprising a work support and throat p on. with feeddevices working therethrough and adapted to hold a fabric, a singlevertically reciprocating strand carrying needle, an elongated presserfoot, the throat late having a rearwardly I and upwardly inclinedchannel leading therefrom and the presser foot provided with alongitudinal g oove over the channel,

inseam and mechanism connected to and operated by the main actuatingmechanism of the sewing machine and including means for formingsuccessive loops and severing the latter to produce a pile on the lowerside of the fabric of equal length, the loops being successively securedin the fabric by the needle and drawn rearwardly through the channel ofthe throat late and groove of the presser foot as the fabric is movedover the work support and throat plate.

24:. A sewing machine having a work sup, porting means to receive afabric, a feed mechanism for moving the fabric over "the work support, athroat plate mounted in the work support having an opening therethroughand an upwardly inclined channel leading therefrom and closed at itslower portion and opening through the top of the said throat plate, asingle vertically reciprocating needle provided with means for guiding astrand thereto, an elongated presser foot having a groove in the lowerportion thereof which registers with a portion of the opening throughthe throat plate and the channel of the latter, and mecha nism below andclose to the work support for successively forming and securing loops inthe fabric on the support and also for cutting the loops on theunderside of the fabric, the loop forming and cutting mechanisms beingseparately mounted and independently operable so that the cuttingmechanism will entirely clear the loop forming mechanism at intervals,the fabric in moving over the work support drawing the successive loopsas formed out of the plane of operation of the said loop formingmechanism and through the opening and channel pf the throat plate andgroove of thepresser oot.

25. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a sewingmachine including a work sup ort, a single vertically reciprocating neede provided with means for su plying a strand thereto, a throat plate inthe work support having an opening therethrough and an upwardly andrearwardly inclined channel closed at its lower portionand openinthrough. the top of the throat plate, an e ongated presser foot disposedover and vertically movable to and from the throat plate and having agroove in its lower portion extending longitudinally thereof forregistration with the opening and channel of the throat plate, feedmeans a part of the latter. mechanism to regularly sever the loops heldby the loop forming mechanism; 7

26. The combination with. a sewing machine having a single verticallyreciprocating needle and work support and feed accessories, of a presserfoot with an opening therethrough for movement of the needle and agroove extending longitudinally rearwardly from the said opening, athroat plate having an opening therethrough from the as formed beingdrawn upwardly through the slot and channel of the throat plate and thegroove of the presser foot as the work is fed over the support andthroat plate.

27. In a machine of the class specified, the combination with sewingmachine instrumentalities consisting of a single verticallyreciprocating needle provided with means for guiding a strand thereto, awork support, a vertically movable presser foot and a throat plate, ofloop forming means oscillatingly mounted below the work support andthroat plate, and a gertically reciprocating carrier mounted below theloop forming means and normally clear of the latter and having a knifethereon disposed at an angle of inclination and movable upwardly into aportion of the loop forming means to sever the successively formedloops.

28. In a machine of the class specified, in

' combination with a single vertically reciprocating needle providedwith means for guiding a strand thereto, a work sup orting and feedingmeans through which t e needle operates, of loop forming mechanismdisposed below the work support and consisting of a fixed stop, alaterally and longitudinally movable loop retaining arm cooperating withsaid stop, a slotted oscillating hook device below the stop and arm, anda vertically reciprocating carrier below the oscillating hook devihe andhaving an angularly disposed knife thereon movable into the slot of thehook device for severing successive loops held by the said hook device.

29. In a machine of the clam specified, the combination with a, worksupport, work feed means and a single vertically reciprocating needleprovided with means for guiding a strand thereto, of loop formingmechanism below the work support and including means for forming a loop,and a vertically reciprocating carrier below the loop forming means andhaving an angularly disposed reversible knife with double cutting edgesto cooperate with the loop forming means for severing the successiveloops as formed to produce a closely associated pile.

30. In a machine of the class specified, the combination with a singlevertically reciprocating needle provided with means for guiding a strandthereto, a work supporting and feeding means through which the needleoperates and a presser foot, of loop forming mechanism beneath the worksupport and including a fixed stop, a laterally and longitudinallymovable loop retaining arm having a free end to abut againstthe stop andhold a portion of a loop and also shift the latter on the stop, anoscillating hook device below the stop and loop retaining arm, avertically reciprocating carrier having a knife thereon to cooperatewith the hoop device for severing successive loops held by the hookdevice, and means for operating the arm, hook device and carrier in vtimed relation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

AUGUST J. CARTER.

Witnesses

